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Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (VP)

Mangaluru, Jul 18: Former minister Ramanath Rai criticised the BJP for misusing and misguiding public over Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary speech.

Addressing the media on Thursday, July 18, at the Congress office, he said, "The only party that has given land to the poor is Congress, and if poor people have land today, it is because of the Congress party. Nowadays, the Congress party is facing many false allegations, and the BJP has tried to misuse the words used by Rahul Gandhi to misguide people and tarnish the Nehru family's name. Motilal Nehru and Jawaharlal Nehru fought for the independence of the country, and Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi gave their lives for this country. The BJP is trying to defame Indira Gandhi for imposing the Emergency, but during the Emergency, no civilians were harmed in the district, and many developmental programmes were initiated. After three years, Indira Gandhi lifted the Emergency."

He further added, "The Emergency was needed at the time, and during that period, land reforms were executed, helping many families. When people were hungry and poor, their loans were waived off. During the Emergency, bus facilities were developed across the country, and people received 5-cent plots of land. Our elders respected Indira Gandhi as much as they respected their own mothers, but still, the BJP mocks the Congress party. Rahul Gandhi said there is no place for violence in Hinduism, but now BJP members are protesting. We are trying to convey our message to them. Former MP Srinivas Mallya worked hard, and all the leaders have contributed significantly to the development of Dakshina Kannada. In the future, we will win both taluk panchayat and zilla panchayat elections, which have not been held for the past two years. We will work hard to strengthen the party and win the next elections."

On BJP ministers' statements claiming that Congress members are silent about condemning Rahul Gandhi because they are hoping for positions, Ramanath Rai responded, "We have spoken our minds. What Rahul Gandhi said is in the media, and anyone who has seen his speech can attest that no objectionable words were used. He said there is no space for violence in Hinduism or Sanatan Dharma."

When asked why the Congress party is not defending against BJP protests, Ramanath Rai said, "We should check the degrees of those people who are protesting. Jagadguru Shankaracharya himself has said that the media is showing only one side of the truth and has advised people always to speak the truth. We trust and believe the words of Jagadguru, as we are not influenced by BJP's Vishwaguru."

Mamatha Gatty, Sashidhar Hegde, Naveen D'Souza, Chittaranjan Shetty, Yogesh Nayak, Baby Kundar, Nityananda Shetty, Surender Kambali, Piyush Rodrigues, Jayasheela Adyanthaya, and others were present.